Tube tempering device



Nov. 10, 1959 w. T. MINTON was: TEMPER-ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2'7, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

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W. T. MlNTO-N TUBE TEMPERING DEVICE Nov. 10, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed- Oct. 27, 1955 'Wy/ye T. Minion INVENTOR.

United States Patent 2,912,561 TUBE TEMPERING DEVICE Wylye T. Minton, Point Pleasant, Va.

. Application October 27, 1955, Serial No.'543,175

2 Claims. (Cl. 219- 50 This'invention relates to a tube tempering device and more particularly to an apparatus adapted to anneal copper tubing. y

In use or in the manufacture thereof, copper tubing often becomes hardened and in order to render this tubing serviceable it is necessary to anneal the tubing. Further, when thetubing is welded to form desired lengths thereof, it must thereafter be annealed in order to be rendered serviceable. This invention therefore provides means for annealing the tubing in a convenient manner while also providing means for testing the tubing.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tube tempering device which is adapted to be utilized in annealing or tempering tubing without requiring wrappings such as abestos and the like which may be positioned thereabout and without requiring end fixtures and the like to be removed therefrom.

The construction of this invention features a housing having a transparent door in which housing the tubing is adapted to be positioned in communication with electrically conductive conduits for water and air used to successively cool the tubing and rid the tubing of excess fluid after the tubing has been subjected to heating through electrical currents which are applied to the tubing through the electrically conductive conduits.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision ofa tube tempering device that is simple in construction, highly efficient in operation, which can accomplish the necessary tempering function in a minimum period of time, yet which is inexpensive to pro duce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization in the field.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this tube tempering device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a schematic diagram of the various components of the invention especially illustrating the electrical circuits utilized therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of the housing and a length of tubing positioned in the housing;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detailed view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial sectional detailed view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 2 illustrating the limit switch controlled by the position of the door of the housing.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral is used to generally designate the tube tempering device of the present invention. This tube tempering device includes a housing as at 12 having a sliding glass door 14. Of course, the door 14 may be formed of any suitable transparent material such as plastics or the like.

Mounted in the housing 12 are suitable fittings as at 2,912,561 Patented. Nov. 10, 1959;-

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16 and 18 to which a length of tubing 20 which is to be" annealed and tested is secured by being threadedly secured to the fittings 16 and 18 or by being otherwise affixed thereto. The embodiment of the fittings 16 and 18 as is shown comprises internally threaded rotatable col-; lars which are positioned about conduits 22 and 24 which extend into the housing 12. Of course, other types of fittings may be used as desired.

The top of the housing 12 is apertured as at 26. A casing 28 for a fan 30 driven by a motor 32 mounted on a spider 34 is provided and this fan is designed to exhaust fumes, gases, and the like through the wire mesh 36.

A limit switch 38 is positioned on the side of the housing' 12 and includes an actuatingelement 40 which is engageable by the door 14 so as to operate the switch 38. Hence, since the switch is so arranged as to control fiow of current to the source of electrical power as at 42, the door of the housing 12 must be closed before the device can be utilized.

Mounted on the conduits 24 and 26 are a pair of terminals 44 and 46 to which conductors 48 and 50 are at-.

tached. The conductors 48 and 50 are connected to the switch blades 52 and 54, respectively, which are controlled by the armature 56 of a solenoid relay 58 and are adapted to be urged into engagement with the contacts 60 and 62, respectively, which are connected across the secondary 64 of a transformer 66, the primary coil 68 of which is connected through a switch assembly 70 to a source of electrical power as at 72. Hence, when the solenoid relay 58 is in a closed position, current will be supplied through the terminals 44 and 46 and through the conduits 22 and 24 to the coil 20 thus heating the coil. The coil of the solenoid 58 is controlled by a switch 74 to which the coil is connected through conductors 76 and 78, to thus complete an operative electrical circuit to the source of power 42.

Connected to the conduit 24 through an insulated coupling 78 of conventional construction which is used to insulate the terminals 44 and .46 from each other is an inlet pipe 80 to which there is connected a T-fitting 82 to which an air supply as at 84 is connected through an air pressure regulator 86 and through a normally closed solenoid operated valve 88 and a check valve as at 90. Further connected to the section 92 of the conduit 80 is a check valve 94, and a solenoid operated control valve 96 which controls the flow of water from a water supply which passes through the water pressure regulator 98.

Controlling the solenoid valve 88 is a switch 100 mounted on the switchboard 102 on which the switch 74 is also mounted. Likewise, a switch 104 controls the solenoid valve 96.

A pressure test gauge 108 is connected to the pipe 80 through a pipe 110 in which there is inserted the normally closed solenoid valve 112 controlled by the switch 114.

A normally open solenoid valve 116 is controlled by the switch 118 and controls flow of fluid out of the conduit 22 and through the discharge pipe 120. The switch 122 controls the operation of the fan 32.

In lieu of the solenoid switches, hand operated valves can be used for a more inexpensive installation and in lieu of the switchboard 102, a timing device may be utilized, there being, of course, a separate switch for the fan.

In order to operate this invention, the tubing 20 is connected to the terminals 16 and 18 and the switch 74 is closed to cause current to be passed through conductors 48 and 50 and the terminals 44 and 46 to the tubing 20. When the tubing has become sufiiciently heated which can be determined either visually or through suitable thermostats, the switch 74 can be opened and switch 104 closed to direct'water into the tube 20 to cool, temper and anneal the tube. Then, the switch 104 and the switch 100 are closed to allow the air to pass into the tube 20 test gauge 108. "If the tube 20:,withstar'ids the'jpressufe.

test it ,is, of course, then ready. for furtheruse.

Theforegoing istcon'sidered as illustrative onlyvofrthe principles of the. invention. modifications and changes will readily, occur. to'those skilled inthe a'rt', it'is not desired to limit, the invention to, the exact construction and'operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable "modifications and equivalents may besresorte'd to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. T

What is claimed as new'is as follows:

1. Ansapparatus for heat treating tubing comprising a housing having a transparent door, means for mounting a lengthjof tubing insaid housing in communication'with" a pair of electrically conductive fluid conduits, means con.- nectingtsaid conduits with a source of electrical power, an inlet pipeconnected. to one'of said conduits, a'wate'r supply, connected tov, said inlet pipe, a valve controlling flow of water from said water supply into said inletpipe, a supply of air under pressure being connected to said inlet pipe, valve means controlling. flow 'of air through Further, since numerous said inlet pipe, and means for pressure testing a length oft tubing connected to said inlet pipe andthe other of said conduits.

2. An apparatus for heat treating tubing comprising a housing having a transparent door, means for mounting a length of tubing in said housing in communication with a pair of electrically conductive fluid conduits, a pair of terminals on said conduits, conductors connecting said terminals to the secondary oif a variable transformer, the primary coil of said transformer being connected to a some of e e t i al n w?! s n et ips-WWW to of said conduits, a water supply connected to said inlet pipe, a valve controlling fiowof water-from said water supply into said inlet pipe, a supply of air under pressure being connected to 'saidirilet pipefvalverneans controlling flow of air through said inlet pipe, and means for pressure testing a length of tubing connected to said inlet pipe and the other of said conduits.

528,661 Nov. 6, 1894 

